Paisley Bird shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Paisley, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing a dream. An ambition. I desire to grow my acting career. I can’t stop. My heart would break. I’ve taken breaks before, but I was unhappy. The best feeling in the world to me is being on set. The electricity of the team working together towards a creative, united goal; there’s nothing quite like it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a creative through and through. My heart lies in film, but I’m also a portrait photographer. I capture cinematic, dreamy moments. I think everyone should have marvelous photos.
My soul is in acting, but I also am working on directing and producing my first short film that I also wrote, Affinity. I’m really excited about bringing text on pages to life. To tell a story that’s unique. It’s inspired by duality and getting older; how we change and grow both the light and the dark of ourselves. This manifested into two polar opposite characters.
It’s important to embrace expression in whatever draws you in.
It’s taken years to gain this confidence, however, the journey is part of the beauty.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to believe strongly, that I wasn’t good enough. I still struggle with it, but I put it aside to pursue my dreams. We have all the knowledge in the world, but feeling that in your body is a completely different element. There’s no such thing as. ‘good enough’ in the creative space. You just are. And that’s all you need. You can learn and grow, which is what I aim for. I’m highly ambitious, it’s intrinsic to me. I’ve always been like that. But now, I have less mental roadblocks. Sure, I still have bad days, weeks, sometimes months, but the fire never goes out. When your flame dims, you have take a step back and figure out how to refuel it. Sometimes, what’s right in front of you is hard to see. But it’s there, waiting for you when you’re ready. And that is how you use your pain for the greater good.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering teaches you many things: patience, empathy, self-awareness, even self love. I know that seems counter-intuitive, but it’s true. As someone who’s very sensitive, I had to learn how to channel that positively. The world looks down on sensitive people, but it’s truly special. To feel the pits of despair and feeling pure joy on the other side isn’t worthy of disgust. It should be celebrated. And I’m not talking about mental illness, although I have that too, I’m talking about how deep someone can feel. It’s a rare set of insight that can cause discomfort to other people. But discomfort is how you emerge from suffering, to say, “I don’t like this anymore” and change for the better. You can’t grow without realizing where you’re at and where you want to be. There’s gratitude in the moment of course, but with a little self love, your suffering can be the best catalyst for the future you want.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That people are simple at the core. We hunger for the basics like food, shelter, and definitely love, etc. But the execution of these things can get messy, that’s how people become complex. We have so many layers that we have built as we grow up, unhealthy practices that deter us from seeing what really matters. The rise of the importance of social media can be so detrimental to our health if we don’t know how to use it in moderation. If no one was around, who would you really be? If there weren’t things to silence us with consequences, how would you speak? If you had no filter, what would you express? Some people are strong enough to be themselves, but in my experience, most people hide. Even myself. Fear is the root of much pain, and I want to be a person who pushes past it. I want to celebrate others so they don’t have to hide.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that when I go, I hope people remember my light and my darkness. That I was a special human even with my flaws. To know and feel that I tried my hardest to make others feel seen. That’s a rare gift, and I hope my efforts are felt by those around me, even when I make mistakes. I hope the story is about a creative girl who’s smile lit up the room. I want everyone to know that every moment with someone has helped me learn, and that they are important. I want people to remember me as the girl who did her best to support them. I want those who outlive me to thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iampaisleybird.com
- Instagram: @iampaisleybird
Image Credits
Screenshots from LUNA and Caged and Wild by Separate Perspective Films
